Porter Hall, tucked in the center of the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being staked out Thursday by adoring fans and inquisitive media as coach Mike Ditka`s ``students`` report for training camp and active duty.

The rookies will be transported here Thursday by buses on the 3 1/2-to-4- hour trek from Lake Forest College, where they have been going through non-contact paces since July 5.

Last year, the buses broke down near Rockford, perhaps a portent of the Bears` unfulfilled excursion through the National Football Conference playoffs last season.

Savvy veterans arrive at various times in vehicles ranging from sleek Porsches and Mercedes to noisy motorcycles and trendy 4-wheelers.

Some players balance extra pillows, room fans and luggage while attempting to oblige fans with an autograph.

Banners extend high across Main Street in downtown Platteville, welcoming the Bears to their preseason home. Pictures of various players adorn the windows of local merchants and service stations.

Popular downtown night spots such as Donisi`s, Jobie`s Tap and the Hoist House on Mineral Street brace for long lines of locals and Chicago-area immigrants hoping to catch a glimpse of a favorite Bear out of uniform.

Most natives feel the added congestion and hysteria in Platteville over the next three weeks will be more than offset by the tourist revenue generated by the Bears` presence in their eighth preseason camp held at UWP.

Restaurants such as Pizzeria Uno and Timbers Supper Club are never busier than when the Bears are in town. Yes, the NFL`s oldest franchise is a bigger draw than the annual Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival (July 3-Aug. 8), the Mining Museum and the Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers football team.

A head count will be taken at the Bears` mandatory team meeting Thursday evening by Bears media relations director Bryan Harlan. Those absent because of contract holdouts or other reasons will be subject to fines, and their names will be given to the media.

Before the start of Friday morning practices, all players, coaches and front-office personnel must undergo testing for steroid and other drugs.

According to Bears trainer Fred Caito, ``This is all coordinated and set up by the league-by Dr. John Lombardo, who is the league`s drug consultant on anabolic steroids. And by Dr. Lawrence Brown, who is the league`s consultant on the drugs of abuse.

``Everything is controlled by the league. The only involvement I have is getting the facility set and getting our players organized in groups so that the actual testing gets done within two hours.``

Later Friday morning, the practice fields will be transformed into a four-ring circus. After special-teams drills and team calisthenics, the 80-man roster will disperse onto separate fields. Defensive linemen over here, offensive linemen over there, etc.

Fans stake out their spots on the grassy knolls early in the morning for the 9 a.m. practice sessions. Then they head for the shade of a tree to catch the 3 p.m. sessions.

Between practices, players will dine at the UWP cafeteria, where the food and all-you-can-eat policy have been a major enticement.

But not even the food may be enough to lure William Perry to Platteville on time this summer.